As mentioned in a previous thread, I won just one lot in the recent GN Pecunem online auction. It arrived today. Overall, I'd say it is better than their photo and a welcome addition to my Republicans. The coin continues to make me glad I bought the Banti set since it is a reverse die match of Banti 6/3. Banti only had five of these and mine is about in the middle quality-wise. This has the minor devices in the reverse field of a grasshopper or locust over a ship's prow. The obverse head is identified as Mars but the naked reverse figure is only called 'warrior'. To the left is a military trophy of arms. I have no idea of the purpose of the prow and insect but it makes this an animal coin. Compared to the others I have found online, my grasshopper is also middle quality when it comes to looking like a grasshopper. My coin is defective in that the ligate legend C MAL hits the edge making the bottom of the L only discernible with a bit of imagination. The obverse has the crossed X denomination mark below and a mallet (Malleolus) above Mars. This would be an appropriate place to show off your grasshopper coins. 96 BC Banti 6/3, Poblicia 6, Crawford 335/3d, BMC 700
LOL, I didn't think of that! It's actually because I spend all my money on books and tets, so I wouldn't be able to deny myself that $200+ to buy a nice one of these.
The most I've spent on an RR was $150 for a Q.Metellus Scipio & Eppius Legatus - has Africa w/ an elephant headdress on the front and Hercules on the back. The surface is very nice but the strike is horrible. I'll post a picture tonight. You should get into them, though.
Don't tempt me. Really, on my YN budget I can't collect every thing, so I'm happy with what I can do.
Whilst the prow and grasshopper are interesting it is the Mars here that has me sold on this coin. I have a long standing soft spot for Mars types (a very ego centric reason) and did start to form a collection of different types several years back but that collection went to the wayside. The bust of mars here is very nice indeed. I wonder what it is that make the reverse simply a warrior and not Mars himself given that his spear and trophy are there for all to see. A very nice coin indeed. Martin
I am most jealous. This is a coin I will have to keep on a lookout. Besides the devises on the reverse which are neat, the warrior figure is most interesting. Congrats.
=> nope, ya got me!! (no Grasshoppers, locust and/or beetles ... just a few scorpions, flies & bees) congrats => Grasshopper is a total winner!! ... ummm, but I'll bet big-money that your Lex Luther (Martin) has a handful of Grasshopper-symbols from his Papius collection?
The best grasshopper coin is the Akragas dekadrachm that I do not own in 'genuine' but this copy of a Becker copy shows the idea. Who has a real one? The British Museum does.
I actually have this in T-shirt form. It is one of my favourite shirts. Awesome coin Doug. I still have yet to purchase my first RR.
what is that rabbit and bird doing on that reverse??? oh.... i.. ok.. well, to each their own. very nice grasshopper...i'm also without an grasshopper coin. i don't even think i have a bug coin.
I bought my first RR two months ago and haven't added many since then. Apart from RRs still being alien landscape to me compared to Imperial coinage, I find that the design themes fall into two categories - too much of the same stuff (Roma obverses, quadriga and Dioscuri reverses), or just too esoteric. The OP coin falls somewhat into the second category for me - I find it fascinating, but I'd rather know what the prow and grasshopper are doing on it. Some mystifying elements won't stop me from appreciating or trying to purchase an RR that catches my fancy, but I suppose as has often been said, I should buy the books (or read the websites) before I buy the coins. Anyone have any suggestions? There was one RR from this Pecunem auction that I was eyeing, but it ended up way above what I was able to pay. Happily, I managed to pick up a cheaper example of the same type from the most recent Roma auction . I'll post it when it arrives.
